Dispenser box



Jan. 21, 1964 w. A. FlNKE 3,118,581

DISPENSER BOX Filed June 29, 1960 IN V EN TOR. Wa/zer H. Fin A'e United States Patent 3,118,581 DISPENSER BOX Walter A. Finite, Saginaw, MiclL, assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MiclL, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 29, 1960, Ser. No. 39,469 8 Claims. (Cl. 225-39) This invention relates to improved dispensing containers or cartons for sheet material, more particularly for thin plastic film and the like which is packaged in wound rolls in said containers or cartons, and which have sheet cutting or severing blades attached to the top of the containers or cartons at the front edges thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, and covers for said containers or cartons hinged to the tops at the rear edges thereof for overlying and concealing said cutting or severing blades when in closed position.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing container or carton for sheet material in roll form, having an outlet for said sheet material in the top of the container or carton at the rear edge thereof, and a cover hinged adjacent said outlet which when in closed position will overlie said container or carton top and a part of the front and end surfaces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing container or carton for sheet material in roll form which will be highly efiicient in use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of my application:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of my improved dispensing container or carton.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing container or carton with closure lid opened, and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the dispensing container or carton showing a portion of the sheet material being severed.

The box A is shaped just about like a regular dispenser box. It is rectangular with a square cross section. Of course, you can put any shape youd prefer in the box structure. The box is made from any kind of sheet you would like. I ordinarily make the whole thing out of cardboard. The box has the usual front and back walls, ends, a bottom and a top side B.

I put a hinged cover or lid C on the top side B, connected by pasting or any other way you would like to the back wall of the box. The lid can actually be an extension of the back wall creased or perforated to make the hinge H. This is really how I usually do it. The lid cover C is bent down or flanged along its front and both sides so that, when closed, it fits partly down along the front and end walls of the box. The front drop on the lid is most important. The drop on the sides can be cut back at an angle (as is shown) or square or even all or part done away with. The front drop may be as long or short as youd like, just so it covers the front top edge (where I put the cutter D) on the box. It is preferred that the front drop should be about a quarter to half the height of the box.

Theres a slot E in the top Wall B of the box. This outlet for the wrapping stock usually runs the length of the box (being long enough, anyway, for the sheet) and can be anywhere along the top as preferred. Adjacent the hinge part for the lid at the back of the box top is quite satisfactory.

In any event, the slot E should be spaced away from the cutter D on the top side B of the box. This does away with sharp bends in the sheet being handled and gets you easier and better dispensing and cutting action.

I like the space on the box top between outlet and cutter to be at least half to three-quarters or so of the width of the box, although even a quarter or so of the width might do. The slot E can be narrow, but its better to have it at least a finger width so that you can simply reach in for the end of the web of sheet wrapping F to pull it out of the box off the roll in which its packed. Of course, the sheet material is generally put up in supply rolls which fit neatly in the box.

Ive mentioned the cutter D. This can be any kind of knife or saw edge strip, even though I feel a saw tooth cutter bar does best. Anyhow, I put the cutter E fiat on the top side B of the box A so its cutting edge just hangs over the front wall but is covered when the lid C is closed. This is the safety wrinkle of my box. The cutter, as you can see, is always covered up except when youre grabbing the end of the sheet F to pull out what you want. This only takes a second and surely avoids accidents and other mishaps due to an exposed cutter.

The operation and advantages of this box are obvious. You pick up the box closed, as in FIGURE 1. Next. lift the lid (see FIGURE 2) to get at the end of the sheet. Then pull out what you need. If you like, you can close the lid as soon as enough of the loose end is over the front top edge of the box to allow it. With the box closed and held in your hand, youve got a perfect stop on the sheet to get a good clean cut. A little squeezing helps to be sure of this, and the lay of the sheet across the box top between the outlet and cutter doesnt hurt this action at all. To cut the sheet F, you pull down on the drawn out end to slice oi the part you want on the cutter, as FIG- URE 3 lets you see.

Another advantage of my box is the way the uncut end of the sheet stays clean and in good shape under the lid. Some dispensers, especially those with bottom cutter bars, leave the end of the sheet wrapping material hanging out Where it can get dirty and even wrinkled up. -In my box, the uncut end is not at all exposed between use so that it keeps just like youd want it.

Ive made my boxes and theyve done real well with both plastic film (even those as hard to handle as saran and polyethylene) and wax paper. The sheet comes out good, is easy to handle and the box gives you a real clean and square cut. Im quite sure the boxes would do fine with aluminum foil too. While my boxes can be made to hold as big a supply of sheet wrapping as youd like, they are particularly advantageous for the home consumer size, i.e., 25 to ft. or so rolls.

What I claim is:

1. In a dispenser box for sheet wrapping material: a box structure having front, back and side walls and a bottom and top; a hinged lid at the top of the back wall of the box with at least a flanged down front edge on the lid, the lid being able to cover the top of the box so that the flanged front edge of the lid drops down over and covers the upper side part of the front wall of the box; a sheet outlet in the top side of the box under the lid and away from the box front; and a cutter, covered by the lid when its closed, at the top edge of the front wall of the box, with a space on the top side of the box between the outlet and the cutter.

2. The box of claim 1, with the outlet along the hinged part of the lid.

3. The box of claim 1, with the outlet along the hinged part of the lid and at least a finger width.

4. The box of claim 1, with the cutter being a flat one laying on the top side of the box with its cutting edge out from the front wall.

5. The box of claim 1, with the space on the top side of the box ibetween outlet and cutter being at least half the width of the box top.

6. The box of claim 1 in combination with a supply of plastic film sheet wrapping material packed in the box.

7. In a dispenser box for sheet wrapping material: a box structure having front, back and side walls and a bottom and top; a hinged lid at the top of the back wall of the box with at least a-flanged down front edge on the lid, the lid being able to cover the top of the box so that the flanged front edge of the lid drops down over and covers about a quarter to about half of the upper side part of the front wall of the box; a sheet outlet of at least finger width along the hinged part of the lid in the top side of the box under the lid and away from the box front; and a flat cutter laying on the top side of the box with its cutting edge out from the top of the front wall, the cutter covered by the lid when its closed, with a space on the top side of the box between the outlet and the cutter that is at least about half the width of the box top.

8. The box of claim 7 in combination with a supply of plastic film sheet wrapping material packed in the box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,996 Duffin Nov. 1, 1932 2,451,215 Hall Oct. 12, 1948 2,522,253 Broeren et al Sept. 12, 1950 2,613,879 Carr Oct. 14, 1952 FORETGN PATENTS 84,765 Sweden Oct. 29, 1935 

1. IN A DISPENSER BOX FOR SHEET WRAPPING MATERIAL: A BOX STRUCTURE HAVING FRONT, BACK AND SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM AND TOP; A HINGED LID AT THE TOP OF THE BACK WALL OF THE BOX WITH AT LEAST A FLANGED DOWN FRONT EDGE ON THE LID, THE LID BEING ABLE TO COVER THE TOP OF THE BOX SO THAT THE FLANGED FRONT EDGE OF THE LID DROPS DOWN OVER AND COVERS THE UPPER SIDE PART OF THE FRONT WALL OF THE BOX; A SHEET OUTLET IN THE TOP SIDE OF THE BOX UNDER THE LID AND AWAY FROM THE BOX FRONT; AND A CUTTER, COVERED BY THE LID WHEN IT''S CLOSED, AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE FRONT WALL OF THE BOX, WITH A SPACE ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE BOX BETWEEN THE OUTLET AND THE CUTTER. 